A "perfect gentleman" and his doting wife who ran a successful flooring business in the town centre have died.

Carpet king and queen Bill and Rose Mitchell, who operated Mitchell's Carpets in Hythe Street, Dartford together for nearly 60 years, died just weeks apart of each other.

The family firm was established in 1963 and originally had branches in Crayford and Belvedere.

But it was the Dartford store where the pair laid down their mark as "pillars of the community" offering all types of flooring including carpets, hard floor departments, and specialising in luxury vinyl tiles.

William Thomas Mitchell, known to family and friends as Bill, was an accomplished estimator and company director, described as the "perfect gentleman" by his former customers and employees.

Bill passed away on August 3 aged 82 following a period of ill-health, just five weeks after his wife Rose, 77.

The pair first met 59 years ago hop-picking in the countryside near Maidstone when they were 23 and 18 respectively.

Within six years of meeting they got married and purchased a house together in Belvedere for £6,000 where they lived up until their deaths.

Next year will mark the 60th anniversary of the business the pair built from scratch together.

The couple's daughter Rose Redworth, 52, says they achieved what they did due to the couple's hard work ethic and dedication to one another.

"They worked side by side to make Mitchell's the business it is today," she said. "My dad was where he was because my mum was his backbone."

Mrs Redworth added: "They have always been the pillar of the community and dad was a great businessman, he worked right up until three years ago and Covid.

"I still get calls and messages from people saying they remember working for my dad doing billing when he first started the business."

The firm is based in a listed building and was renovated with the help of the heritage lottery fund many years ago.

Roughly a year ago Mrs Redworth's partner Jim took over as manager, working with son Sammy who is the third generation to work at Mitchell's Carpets.

She said: "The family are very lucky that they have inherited Mitchell's Carpets which is a thriving ongoing business with a great team of staff and excellent fitters which will continue to stay open in Dartford town centre for many, many more years to come."

Besides their sterling reputation as traders in the town, she added how her mum and dad were also well regarded and thought of as stalwarts of the local community.

Bill was a member of the Black Prince Masonic Lodge in West Hill for more than 40 years.

Rose was a keen gardener who had managed to scoop runner-up on the one occasion she entered the Bexley in Bloom competition.

Mrs Redworth added: "They had a very good circle of friends, about eight of them they called the holiday gang.

"They were very lucky and they would travel the world and go on beautiful holidays."

The couple had both experienced ill-health prior to the pandemic.

Rose passed away peacefully on June 30 after having terminal cancer for four years.

Husband Bill, who had suffered heart problems, passed away shortly after following a stay in hospital.

"After mum left I honestly think he could not live without her," added Mrs Redworth.

"He doted on her and she looked after him. He had never been without her. His heart was broken."

Tributes flooded in online following news of their passing on social media.

"He was the perfect gentleman and will be missed by many," one post dedicated to Bill read.

While another added: "So sorry to hear of your dad's passing, and so soon after your mum. May they be reunited, and rest in eternal peace.

"My thoughts and prayers to you and your family."

Bill and Rose Mitchell are survived by their son and daughter named after themselves, their six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.